About Us

In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Saturday, 22 June 2013

Kingsbury water park

Having moored up last night, had dinner and then settled down to watch the TV, we realised that the noise coming from a storage depot right next to us was starting to become unbearable. Every 15 minutes or so lorry's kept coming and unhitching their trailers. So just before it got to dark to see, we up stakes and moved half a mile further along the cut. Not quite by the sewage works but near enough for the slight pong to permeate through the air. We still felt it was better then keeping awake all night! The sunset seemed a bit weird. I think it was the cloud formation causing it.

So this morning in the drizzle we moved again, down the 9 Curdworth locks to the Dog and Doublet. Its not a bad flight of locks but some are desperately in need of maintenance, one in the picture below is an accident waiting to happen. The small bridge across is not just loose but looks to be in such bad state of repair that anyone stepping on it would no doubt end up in the canal. With no other means to cross other then walk around, Ian, as would many others, walked precariously across the beam.

These trees makes it difficult to go straight into the lock. They could do with cutting back.

Bad leakage from lock 2

Looking down the flight

Even though C&RT have neglected the locks, someone has tried to make them look nice.

Having managed to stay reasonably dry during our journey, we arrived at the mooring before lunch, The heavens opened as we were about to moor and we hurried to grab the ropes. A frantic few minutes ensued to try and tie up before we got to wet. Then after lunch, as the weather had improved, we walked to Kingsbury water park, about 3/4 mile away. This park is well worth a visit. There is a visitor center, bike hire, water sports, a great ride on miniature railway and fantastic walks round the numerous lakes.